The Top Singles of The Noughts (Part 1)

nought n also naught ought aught
(Mathematics) another name for zero: used esp in counting or numbering.

Let’s give a warm bumpershine welcome to guest contributor Chris Molanphy, former Idolator scribe, and self-described, “mild-mannered communications consultant by day, pop geek by night”. For the month of December he’s tweeting down his favorite songs of the decade and he’s been kind enough to share them here as well. You can follow Chris on Twitter @cmolanphy, or search his descriptive (yet less than pithy) hash tag #cmolanphytopsongsof00s. -ed.

Chris Molanphy’s Top 75 Songs of the Noughts
All through December, I’m tweeting my Top 75 favorite songs of the Noughts. This lousy decade has actually been chockablock with pretty great pop. Why 75? ‘Cuz 100’s too much, 50 too little. Unlike some other lists, I’m okay with including multiple songs by the same act. Also I’m a centrist—not out to be hip or defy conventional wisdom.

Check out numbers 60-11 after the jump. According to Chris, we should hit no. 1 by Christmas eve.

#60-#51
60. LCD Soundsystem, “Losing My Edge.” Diminishes hipsterdom while warmly hugging actual hipsters.
59. Mary J. Blige, “Family Affair.” What’s a “dancery”? The crunk era drops a coin into the nickelodeon.
58. Peter Bjorn & John, “Young Folks.” Indie’s top handmade (mouthmade?) sample—resistance is futile.
57. Coldplay, “Clocks.” The decade’s all-around prettiest recording, and an oddly influential one (even they kept trying to rip it off)—which must explain all the Coldplay hatred.
56. Annie, “Heartbeat.” Not as amazing as the hipsters said but essentially perfect as pop songs go.
55. Modest Mouse, “Float On.” Hipsters sell out, rewrite “Life Is a Highway,” somehow make it pretty great.
54. Amy Winehouse, “Rehab.” Write what you know—good advice in life and in pop. Who knew this really was Amy’s statement of purpose?
53. R Kelly, “I Wish.” For me, this is ideal Kells—faux-gospel crossed with the skittery beats he does so well. And self-aggrandizing BS lyrics he somehow makes you believe.
52. Madonna, “Don’t Tell Me.” Her last great tune—the final moment she was still pushing the Zeitgeist where she wanted it to go.
51. Hot Chip,”My Piano.” A personal favorite from one of the decade’s great new acts: warm, vintage synths + perky beats = airy beauty.

#30-#21
30. Justin Timberlake, “Cry Me a River.” (View Video) His own “Positively 4th Street.” All about the tension.
29. Kylie Minogue, “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” (especially the New Order “Blue Monday” mix). (View Video) Eight years later, this still feels like futurepop.
28. The Hives, “Hate to Say I Told You So.” (View Video) Did the Swedish have to try and dominate yet another of our genres?!
27. Missy Elliott, “Get Ur Freak On.” (View Video) Bhangra-pop so far ahead of its time, it took the Oscars another eight years to catch up.
26. The White Stripes, “My Doorbell.” (View Video) Completely atypical for them, but so pleasurable. Jack White has much greater range than his rock peers.
25. Estelle featuring Kanye West, “American Boy.” (View Video) Breezy soul the Brits do best—even as they envy us for our parties and our sneakers.
24. The Killers, “Mr. Brightside.” (View Video) Who knew disgust could be so bracing? Doesn’t just rock—it gallops.
23. John Legend, “Ordinary People.” (View Video) Five years later, I still can’t believe will.i.am wrote this. Mature, in the very best sense.
22. The Arcade Fire, “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out).” (View Video) Did they change rock? No, but they had such grandeur. Rocks the bells harder than Run-DMC.
21. Franz Ferdinand, “Take Me Out.” (View Video) How exactly was dance-rock a NYC thing if it turned out a bunch of Scotsmen did it best?